How to be unoffendable

Sometimes it’s easier to just let things go. But what does that look like in a culture that holds up anger as a virtue? Radio host Brant Hansen talks about giving up our “right” to be offendable:

“It’s hard to get rid of anger. It’s excruciating to forgive – that’s why the alternative to anger is forgiveness. Because you can’t do both at the same time.” Brant points out that in Scripture, we’re called to lay down our anger.

How then should we respond to injustice, suffering, oppression, and even murder?

• Choose to forgive.

• Realize that when we get angry at someone, we’re making presumptions about their motives, attitude, and abilities that we can’t truly know.

• Pray and act. Choose to let your anger drive you to action instead of indignation.

Brant points out the pattern of mercy and grace laid out in the Bible – starting with God.

“He takes a coat and covers us [in Christ]. We are morally naked. You and I and everyone else listening to this are morally naked. Love covers a multitude of sins… Instead of being angry about sin, I have the opportunity to cover it. Why wouldn’t I want to cover someone else’s sin? Why wouldn’t I want to extend that patience to someone else? It is not my job to say ‘I am entitled to righteous anger because of you.’ That’s God’s job and I’m not confusing myself with Him anymore.”